Device for pivoting the motor of a sewing machine



DEVICE FOR PIVOTING THE MOTOR OF A SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1968 Feb. 3, 1970 FRESARD ETAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 3, 1970 M. FRESARD ETA!- 3,492,958

DEVICE FOR PIVOTING THE MOTOR OF A SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I i United States Patent Int. Cl. Db 69/00; B6511 53/00 US. Cl. 112220 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The pivotally mounted sewing machine motor is moved by a cam between three distinct positions, respectively a sewing position, a position for winding thread on the spool, and a neutral position. A further cam actuates a handwheel lock when the motor is in the last-named position.

The invention relates to a sewing machine device to enable movement of the motor between three different positions.

It is advantageous that sewing machines should incorporate a simple, robust, inexpensive device that enables the operator easily, quickly, and accurately to move the motor into and out of engagement with the handwheel or the thread spool spindle, and into a third, neutral position in which the motor drive wheel is disengaged and the handwheel is automatically locked in a position wherein the thread take up lever is safely concealed inside of the sewing machine head.

The device of the invention comprises manually operated means for moving a pivotally mounted sewing machine motor into a first position, wherein the motor drive wheel is disengaged from both the handwheel and the spool thread spindle, a second position, wherein the drive wheel runs only the handwheel, and a third position 'wherein the drive wheel turns only the spool thread spintile, and means for locking the handwheel in a predetermined position when the motor is in the first position.

The invention will be described in detail, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view in section of the vertical column of a sewing machine, enclosing the drive motor,

FIG. 2 is a view, partly cut away, of part of the upper end of the column,

FIG. 3 is a top, detail view of the arrangement for controlling the position of the motor,

FIG. 4 is a rear view, partly cut away, of the handwheel locking mechanism, and

FIG. 5 is a developed view of the profile of the cam for controlling the position of the motor.

With reference to the figures, the sewing machine shown in part in FIG. 1 incorporates an electric motor 3 mounted in the vertical column 2 of the machines frame 1. Two pins 6, rigidly connected to the frame, engage in respective, diametrically opposite recesses 5 provided in the housing 4 of the motor. The motor is thus free to pivot on the pins 6. The motor 3 turns the handwheel 7 by means of a drive wheel 8, when the spindle of the latter is in the position II illustrated in FIG. 1. The drive wheel also runs a thread spool winding spindle 9 (shown in FIG. 2) that turns in two bearings 10 and 11 mounted in the frame 1 and which carries at its lower end a driven wheel 12 which is engaged by the drive Wheel 8 when the spindle of the latter is located in the position III, as indicated in FIG. 1. The upper end 13 of the spindle 9 receives a thread spool 14.

A knob 15 enables the motor 3 to be moved to its positions II and III, or to a center neutral position I, in which the drive wheel 8 does not contact either the handwheel 7 or the driven wheel 12. The knob is mounted to turn in the front face 16 of the column 2, and carries two cams located behind the face 16, an axially operative cam 17 and a radially operative cam 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. A forked plate 19 is fixed to the upper end of the motor housing 4. The plate is free to swing about a first mounting screw 20, a second mounting screw 21 passing through an elongated opening 22 in the plate, whereby to permit adjustment of the plates position with respect to the housing 4. The plate incorporates a cam follower in the shape of a finger which contacts the profile 24 of the cam 17, the profile being shown developed in FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cam profile is such that when the finger 23 touches the zone 25, the spindle of the drive wheel 8 is in position II, wherein the drive wheel engages the handwheel 7 to drive the sewing machine. When the cam follower 23 is in contact with the zone 26 of the profile 24, the drive wheel spindle is in position III, for turning the driven wheel 12 of the thread spool spindle 9. Finally, when the cam follower contacts the cam profile zone 27, the drive wheel spindle is in position I, the neutral position in which the drive Wheel 8 is disengaged from either the handwheel 7 or the driven wheel 12, thereby preventing damage to the resilient covering of the drive wheel when the sewing machine is idle. A spring 28, hooked at one end to an ear 29 of the plate 19 and at the other end to the frame 1, holds the cam follower 23 in contact with the cam profile 24.

The other cam 18, mounted on, or forming an integral part of, the knob 15, serves to operate a lock for the handwheel 7 when the latter is in a predetermined position. In accordance with the invention, this position corresponds to that in which the thread take up lever is safely located within the head of the sewing machine so that it cannot be damaged when the sewing machine is packed or shipped. As shown in FIG. 4, a lever 30 is pivotally mounted in an axle 31 mounted on the frame 1. A projection of this lever constitutes a cam follower 32 in the form of a finger that contacts the profile 33 of the cam 18. The end 34 of the lever is intended to enter a slot 35 in the handwheel 7 when the latter must be locked in postion. The lever 30, as seen in FIG. 4, is baised to pivot clockwise by a tension spring 36 hooked at one end to the lever end 37 and at the other end to the frame 1, to hold the cam follower 32 against the cam profile 33. The respective positions of the earns 17 and 18 are such that when the cam follower 23 for the cam 17 contacts the zone 27, which causes the motor 3 to be moved to the neutral position I, the cam follower 32 for the cam 18 contacts the deepest depression 38 of the cam profile 33, permitting the end 34 of the lever 30 to enter the slot 35 of the handwheel and to lock the latter. The profile 33 of the cam 18 incorporates two additional depressions 39 and 40, which are entered by the cam follower 32, in order to prevent movement of the cams 17 and 18, when the cam 17 causes the motor 3 to take the respective positions II and III.

By merely turning the knob 15, the arrangement de scribed enables the sewing machine motor to be easily, quickly, and accurately moved to a position I, in which the sewing machine is ready for packing or shipping, to a position II, for normal operation of the sewing machine, and to a position III, for winding thread on the spool 14. With a sewing machine equipped with the invention it is unnecessary, when winding thread on the spool 14, first to disengage the handwheel 7 from the arm shaft 41, which carries the handwheel and operates the mechanism of the sewing machine.

The invention admits of various modifications that do not exceed its scope. For example, the cam 17 for controlling movement of the motor 3 into its three possible positions can be replaced by a lever or rack arrangement positioned between the knob and the motor housing 4. Further, the lock mechanism for the handwheel 7 can comprise a locking plunger instead of the means previously described.

We claim:

1. A drive arrangement for a sewing machine having a frame, a handwheel and a thread spool winding spindle, an electric drive motor mounted within the frame having a drive wheel thereon for selectively turning the handwheel for normal operation of the sewing machine and when the motor is moved to a different position, for turning the thread spool winding spindle, including means for freely mounting the motor to pivot with respect to the frame, manually operated means for enabling the motor to be pivoted into three distinct positions: a first position wherein the drive wheel is disengaged from both the handwheel and the thread spool winding spindle, a second position wherein the drive wheel is in driving engagement only with the handwheel to operate the sewing machine, and a third position wherein the drive wheel is in driving engagement only with the thread spool winding spindle, and means responsive to said manually operated means for automatically locking the handwheel entering therein when freedby said second cam to pivot under the influence of said resilient means.

4. The drive arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said lever includes a cam follower for said second cam, and said second cam incorporates a plurality of means cooperating with said second cam follower for holding said first and second cams stationary when the motor is in one of its three said positions.

5. The drive arrangement as defined in claim 4, including a cam follower for said first cam, and means adjustably mounting said first cam follower on the mOt r.

6. The drive arrangement as defined in claim '5, wherein said first cam incorporates a profile that acts on said first cam follower in a direc ion parallel to the axis of rotation of said first cam, and said second cam incorporates a profile that acts on said second cam follower in a direction radial to the axis of rotation of said second cam.

7. The drive arrangement as defined in claim 6, including an exposed knob mounted rotatably on the frame and rigidly carrying said first and second cams.

8. The drive arrangement as defined in claim 6, in-

eluding resilient means for holding said first cam folin a predetermined position when the motor is in said lower against said first cam, and wherein said predetermined position of the handwheel is that position in which the sewing machine thread take up lever i located entirely within the head of the sewing machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,417,417 3/1947 Ivandick 112-220 2,943,586 7/1960 Hamlett 112.218 3,388,681 6/1968 Fujita 1l2220 H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

